Resources · Path to Licensure

Step-by-step licensure pathways in Utah.

Utah licenses all six behavioral-health professions through the Division of Professional Licensing (DOPL). Several features are distinctive. Utah’s clinical counseling and clinical social work ladders increased their supervised-hour requirements for licenses issued on or after May 1, 2024 (both pre- and post-change figures are shown). Utah is notable for requiring NO examination for several master’s-level associate and entry tiers — including the Certified Social Worker and the SUDC and associate addiction tiers. Utah counseling uses ONLY the NCMHCE (not the NCE). Utah state-licenses behavior analysts under the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act, and DOPL’s exam page references the BCBA examination for both the Behavior Analyst and Assistant Behavior Analyst tiers.

Want the one-line summary instead? See the Utah licensure overview →
Open the profession + state finder →

Jump to a profession

Professional CounselingAddiction & Substance Use CounselingSocial WorkMarriage & Family TherapyPsychologyBehavior Analysis

Professional Counseling

Prep for the NCMHCE / NCE →
ACMHC

Associate Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: None — per DOPL, there is no examination requirement for this classification. The NCMHCE is taken for the full CMHC license.

Scope: Utah’s supervised, pre-independent counseling license, issued by DOPL under the Behavioral Health Board (Utah Code 58-60 Part 4). The ACMHC accrues post-graduate clinical hours toward the CMHC and must practice under a qualified mental-health supervisor.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in mental-health counseling from a CACREP-accredited program (or a CHEA-accredited equivalent reviewed course-by-course).
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the ACMHC; this is the credential held while accruing hours toward the CMHC.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Behavioral Health Board, CMHC) online via the mylicenseone portal or by paper application.
CMHC

Clinical Mental Health Counselor

Required exam: The NCMHCE (National Clinical Mental Health Counseling Examination), administered by NBCC. Utah does NOT require the NCE.

Scope: Utah’s full, independent counseling license, issued by DOPL under Utah Code 58-60-401 et seq. It authorizes the diagnosis and treatment of mental and emotional conditions and the independent practice of psychotherapy.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in mental-health counseling, CACREP-accredited (or CHEA-equivalent with course review).
  2. Supervision / experience3,000 total hours. If the ACMHC was issued before May 1, 2024: 1,000 hours direct client care plus 75 hours of direct clinical supervision. If issued on or after May 1, 2024: 1,200 hours direct client care plus 100 hours of direct clinical supervision (25 of which must be direct observation).
  3. ExamPass the NCMHCE; the score is reported directly from NBCC to DOPL.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL with proof of two hours of continuing education in suicide prevention, online or by paper CMHC application.

Official Professional Counseling resources

Addiction & Substance Use Counseling

Prep for the MAC / NCAC exam →
SUDC

Substance Use Disorder Counselor

Required exam: None — per DOPL, there are no exam requirements for this license. (Utah removed the former IC&RC exam requirement at this tier.)

Scope: Utah’s entry-level addiction-counseling license, issued by DOPL under the Behavioral Health Board (Utah Code 58-60 Part 5). It authorizes substance-use-disorder assessment and counseling within scope.
  1. EducationAt least an associate degree from a CHEA-accredited institution, plus the required substance-use-disorder-specific education and a supervised practicum.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised practicum hours, with further supervised practice accruing toward the ASUDC.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (SUDC committee) online or by paper application.
ASUDC

Advanced Substance Use Disorder Counselor

Required exam: One of three options: the NAADAC NCC AP Level II exam, the NAADAC NCC AP Master Addiction Counselor (MAC) exam, or the IC&RC Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor (AADC) exam. Register via AUSAP.

Scope: Utah’s advanced addiction-counseling license above the SUDC, with a broader independent scope. Issued by DOPL.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree in substance-use-disorder/addiction studies, social work, mental-health counseling, MFT, or psychology from a regionally accredited institution.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised experience as a SUDC before applying (per R156-60d).
  3. ExamPass the NCC AP Level II, NCC AP MAC, or IC&RC AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (SUDC committee) online or by paper application.
AMAC

Associate Master Addiction Counselor

Required exam: None — per DOPL, there are no exam requirements for this classification.

Scope: Utah’s master’s-level associate (pre-independent) addiction-counseling license, issued by DOPL. It authorizes supervised practice while the holder accrues hours toward the MAC.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in a behavioral-health/addiction field.
  2. Supervision / experienceHeld while accruing the supervised hours required for the MAC.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (SUDC committee) online or by paper application.
MAC

Master Addiction Counselor

Required exam: One of three options (same as ASUDC): the NAADAC NCC AP Level II exam, the NAADAC NCC AP MAC exam, or the IC&RC AADC exam. Register via AUSAP.

Scope: Utah’s top, independent master’s-level addiction-counseling license, issued by DOPL.
  1. EducationA master’s degree in a behavioral-health/addiction field.
  2. Supervision / experiencePost-graduate supervised hours accrued as an AMAC (per R156-60d).
  3. ExamPass the NCC AP Level II, NCC AP MAC, or IC&RC AADC examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (SUDC committee) online or by paper application.

Official Addiction & Substance Use Counseling resources

Social Work

Prep for the ASWB exam →
SSW

Social Service Worker

Required exam: None — per DOPL, there are no exam requirements for the Social Service Worker or Certified Social Worker.

Scope: Utah’s entry-tier social-work license, issued by DOPL under the Social Worker Licensing Act (Utah Code 58-60 Part 2). It authorizes social-service work (case management, non-clinical services) within a defined scope.
  1. EducationA qualifying bachelor’s-level degree (a BSW or qualifying related degree).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised hours may be required at this tier (waived for those holding a master’s); confirm current requirements on the SSW application page.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Social Work committee) online or by paper application.
CSW

Certified Social Worker

Required exam: None — per DOPL, no exam is required for the SSW or CSW (unusual; most states require the ASWB Masters exam at the master’s tier).

Scope: Utah’s master’s-level social-work license, issued by DOPL. It authorizes broader practice than the SSW and is the supervised/pre-clinical credential on the path to the LCSW.
  1. EducationA Master of Social Work (MSW) from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceNone required to obtain the CSW; this is the credential held while accruing hours toward the LCSW.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Social Work committee) online or by paper application.
LCSW

Licensed Clinical Social Worker

Required exam: The ASWB Clinical Examination (pre-approval is handled by ASWB directly, not DOPL).

Scope: Utah’s full, independent clinical social-work license, issued by DOPL under Utah Code 58-60-205. It authorizes diagnosis, psychotherapy, and independent clinical practice.
  1. EducationAn MSW from a CSWE-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experience3,000 total hours. If the CSW was issued before May 1, 2024: 1,000 hours direct client care plus 75 hours of direct clinical supervision. If issued on or after May 1, 2024: 1,200 hours direct client care plus 100 hours of direct clinical supervision (25 of which must be direct observation).
  3. ExamPass the ASWB Clinical Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL with proof of two hours of continuing education in suicide prevention, online or by paper LCSW application.

Official Social Work resources

Marriage & Family Therapy

Prep for the National MFT Exam →
AMFT

Associate Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: None to obtain the AMFT; the applicant becomes eligible for the AMFTRB examination after the AMFT license is granted.

Scope: Utah’s supervised, pre-independent MFT license, issued by DOPL under the Marriage and Family Therapist Licensing Act (Utah Code 58-60 Part 3). It authorizes MFT practice only under the direct supervision of an LMFT who has held the license at least two years, while the holder accrues hours toward the LMFT.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree in MFT from a COAMFTE-accredited program (degree conferred on transcripts).
  2. Supervision / experienceNone to obtain; the AMFT is the credential held while accruing hours toward the LMFT.
  3. ExamNone to obtain (becomes eligible for the AMFTRB exam after the AMFT is granted).
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (MFT committee) online or by paper application; email transcripts to DOPL.
LMFT

Marriage and Family Therapist

Required exam: The AMFTRB national Marriage and Family Therapy examination.

Scope: Utah’s full, independent MFT license, issued by DOPL under Utah Code 58-60-305. It authorizes the independent practice of marriage and family therapy and psychotherapy.
  1. EducationA COAMFTE-accredited master’s or doctoral MFT degree (conferred).
  2. Supervision / experience3,000 total post-graduate supervised hours (DOPL’s standard application requires all forms total 3,000 hours), generally including approximately 1,000 MFT direct client-contact hours with relational/conjoint work, over at least 18 months.
  3. ExamPass the AMFTRB examination; an official score report is required.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (MFT committee) with verification of post-graduate supervised experience (a separate form per supervisor) and the official AMFTRB score report.

Official Marriage & Family Therapy resources

Psychology

Prep for the EPPP →
Psychology Resident

Certified Psychology Resident

Required exam: None — per DOPL, applicants are not required to pass an exam for this classification.

Scope: Utah’s intermediate psychology credential, issued by DOPL under the Psychologist Licensing Act (Utah Code 58-61). It allows a doctoral graduate to complete the required post-doctoral supervised hours under supervision before full licensure.
  1. EducationA doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) from an APA-accredited program (or equivalent).
  2. Supervision / experienceHeld while completing the post-doctoral supervised hours required for full licensure.
  3. ExamNone.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Psychology committee) after the degree, before sitting for the licensing exams.
Psychologist

Psychologist (Licensed)

Required exam: Both the EPPP (ASPPB) and the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination (a state jurisprudence exam administered through DOPL’s vendor, Prov).

Scope: Utah’s full, independent doctoral-level psychology license, issued by DOPL under Utah Code 58-61. It authorizes assessment, diagnosis, and psychotherapy. There is no master’s-level psychologist license in Utah.
  1. EducationA doctoral degree (PhD or PsyD) in psychology from an APA-accredited program.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised hours over at least two years — typically a pre-doctoral internship plus post-doctoral supervised experience completed as a Certified Psychology Resident (confirm exact figures in R156-61).
  3. ExamPass the EPPP and the Utah Psychologist Law and Ethics Examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Psychology committee); submit the Request for Authorization to Test for the EPPP and schedule the Law and Ethics exam via Prov.

Official Psychology resources

Behavior Analysis

Prep for the BCBA exam →
Assistant BA

Assistant Behavior Analyst

Required exam: Per DOPL’s exam page, the Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination is listed for the Assistant tier as well as the full tier (an unusual mapping; most states use the BCaBA exam at the assistant tier — confirm with DOPL before applying).

Scope: Utah’s bachelor’s-level behavior-analysis license, issued by DOPL under the Behavior Analyst Licensing Act (Utah Code 58-61 Part 7; rule R156-61a). It authorizes the practice of applied behavior analysis under the supervision of a licensed Behavior Analyst.
  1. EducationA bachelor’s degree with BACB-approved coursework.
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised fieldwork per BACB requirements, practicing under a licensed Behavior Analyst (per R156-61a).
  3. ExamThe examination listed by DOPL (see exam note above).
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Behavioral Health Board / Psychology) with a supervision contract per R156-61a.
Behavior Analyst

Behavior Analyst

Required exam: The Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) examination, developed by the BACB.

Scope: Utah’s master’s/doctoral-level, independent behavior-analysis license, issued by DOPL under Utah Code 58-61 Part 7 (rule R156-61a). It authorizes the independent practice of applied behavior analysis and supervision of assistants and trainees.
  1. EducationA master’s or doctoral degree with BACB-approved coursework (a verified course sequence).
  2. Supervision / experienceSupervised (concentrated) fieldwork per BACB requirements (confirm exact figures in R156-61a).
  3. ExamPass the BACB BCBA examination.
  4. ApplicationApply to DOPL (Behavioral Health Board / Psychology) with a supervision contract.

Official Behavior Analysis resources

All licenses

Utah licensing portals & background checks.

How to use this page. Each card shows the education, supervised experience, exam, and application steps for one Utah license, plus its scope of practice. Licensing rules change — always confirm current requirements with the official board before you apply. Verified against the official state boards in June 2026.

Pass the exam on your path.

Triad’s AATBS brand prepares candidates for the EPPP, ASWB, NCE/NCMHCE, MFT, BCBA, and addictions exams — backed by a pass guarantee.

Find your exam prep →